A rural and cultural idyll at the heart of a historic market town

Posted 19/03/2021

Community, space and access to the great outdoors have been a priority this year like never before. City dwellers may dream about running away to the country but once lockdown is fully lifted, the cities will start to bounce back. Therefore, it is no surprise that a semi-rural location with great transport links to London is hitting all the right notes with homebuyers.

One such location is Coggeshall, a picturesque and historic market town in Essex, eight miles to the east of Braintree. Although it boasts easy accessibility to both Colchester and London, it remains totally unspoilt and charming in character with its attractive centre made up of nearly 200 listed buildings. As one of the oldest town’s in Essex, Coggeshall has a village feel, which makes it rare to find a development of new homes.

Combining contemporary design, smart technology and sensitive architecture to its surroundings is Coggeshall West, a boutique development of three- four- and five-bedroom houses. Built by multi-award winning and local housebuilder, Higgins Homes, the three- and four-bedroom showhomes are both available for viewings. With the stamp duty holiday having been extended to 30th June, there is the opportunity to save £15,000 and you can move in this summer.

“This is a rare and special opportunity to become part of this lovely, historic community,” says Jeremy Marcus, Sales & Marketing Director at Higgins Homes. “We’ve had a very positive response to our initial launch and there’s been a huge interest in the showhomes, especially with the news about the stamp duty holiday extension. The homes combine the very best of efficient, modern design with the very best of village life and the scenic, peaceful surroundings.”

There are only 29 houses available for private sale and within this there is a mixture of 13 different house types to choose from. Each home has been designed to meet the needs of the modern buyer and features stylish and functional living spaces. Designer details include the stylish ROK kitchen with its Bosch oven, washer/dryer, dishwasher and fridge/freezer. Interior design has been considered throughout with ambient lighting circuits, contemporary sanitaryware in the bathrooms and an exceptionally high-standard of finish throughout.

With phase one now 35% reserved, there is already a lovely community forming with a mix of families and older couples downsizing. There’s an active community spirit in Coggeshall with an incredible number of local organisations and groups to join. From flower arranging to football, there is plenty of opportunity to meet your neighbours, even if just at the weekly, specialist food market. There is also an emphasis in promoting arts and culture to flourish with ArtSpace, a not-for-profit organisation to support the local community.

For families moving to Coggeshall, there is plenty of local schools to choose from, with many rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. Should you wish to privately educate, there are also various options nearby.

All new residents at Coggeshall West will appreciate the easy access to outdoor space and the choice of picturesque places to visit. The town is on the River Blackwater, midway between Braintree and Colchester and within easy reach of Chalkney Woods and the Owen Martin Nature Reserve. Both spots offer beautiful places to run, take the dogs for a walk or have a relaxing picnic. To take a look at some of the area’s most historic lands, pay a visit to Paycocke, a Tudor merchant house owned by the National Trust.

Village life at Coggeshall has everything you need on your doorstep including local, historic pubs and a Co-op for everyday shopping. If you want a choice of more shops, restaurants and bars, nearby Kelvedon Station offers a train journey into Colchester in just 13 minutes and Chelmsford in 17 minutes. There are regular bus services to Colchester, Braintree and other nearby towns and villages and the A120 offers easy access to Colchester and Braintree.

To commute into London, the train takes you into London Liverpool Street in only 53 minutes. The A12 provides a direct link right to the centre of London and out to the coast of East Anglia. The M11 offers you a quick route to the M25 and the national motorway network. Stansted is the nearest airport, less than half an hour by car.

Prices at Coggeshall West range from £475,000 to £625,000.